ROCKHOUNDS: Former Howard star Neal hoping to make more baseball memories in Midland

By Oscar LeRoy | oleroy@mrt.com

Published 11:30 am, Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Photo: JAMES DURBIN

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Feature portrait of Rockhounds pitcher Zach Neal during the season opening media day Tuesday at Citibank Ballpark. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Feature portrait of Rockhounds pitcher Zach Neal during the season opening media day Tuesday at Citibank Ballpark. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: JAMES DURBIN

ROCKHOUNDS: Former Howard star Neal hoping to make more baseball memories in Midland

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Midland RockHounds pitcher Zach Neal hopes to continue to add great memories to his baseball playing career.

Thanks to signing a minor league free agent deal with the Oakland Athletics just a few days ago, Neal is back to an area where some of his fondest memories as a baseball player took place.

Back in 2009, Neal was a part of the outstanding 63-1 NJCAA National Champion Howard College baseball team as the Hawks’ sophomore ace. That season, Neal went 13-0 with a 3.21 ERA, 104 strikeouts and just nine walks in 89 2/3 innings. He went on to garner Western Junior College Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and NJCAA second-team All-American honors.

“That season, those guys and the coaches is something that I’ll never forget,” said the 24-year-old right-hander from Flower Mound, who is expected to start Friday’s game at Northwest Arkansas. “It was a special group of guys and you can’t replace a team like that, as our record showed. That’s also a memory you can’t replace for me and my family.”

Neal was also fortunate enough the following year to pitch in the College World Series for the University of Oklahoma

“I didn’t think it could be any better, and then I go to OU,” he said.

Neal spent one season with the Sooners before he was a 17th round draft pick by the Marlins in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

After going 17-14 with a 3.80 ERA in two-plus seasons with the Marlins organization, Neal asked for his release to explore his options as a pro ball player. That’s when the A’s came into the picture as he was assigned to the Double-A RockHounds after signing his contract late last week.

“ I was a ready to play for anybody but (the A’s) saw that I fit with them, more importantly,” said Neal, who was a combined 8-7 with a 2.78 ERA with Double-A Jacksonville and High-A Jupiter last year. “I guess my style of pitching is what they look for, but I was ready to go anywhere. I always liked the A’s and I’m ready to go with them.”

It probably also helps Neal to see that the A’s have had great success with their pitchers. Just last season, pitchers such as A.J. Griffin, Sean Doolittle and Dan Straily began the year with the RockHounds before ending the season with the big league club.

“To see the way they develop young arms and pitchers in general is very encouraging,” he said. “They have a great history with that and it’s very exciting to be a part of it. I just need to keep doing what I do and play my game, not worry about the stuff I can’t control and throw strikes.”

From what the RockHounds field staff has seen from previous outings, they seem to like what Neal brings to the mound.

“I saw him when he was pitching for the Marlins and I was really impressed with what he had,” manager Aaron Nieckula said. “He commanded the zone, threw first-pitch strikes, and just kept the ball down. He’s got a good presence on the mound out there. It kind of seems like he’s kind of got a bulldog-type mentality, like ‘Give me the ball, man. I’ll get an out for you.’”

Pitching coach Don Schulze said Neal has some good stuff.

“I saw him for the first time the other day against the Giants and he spotted up his fast ball real good, he’s got a great slider and I like what he’s got,” he said.

Neal said the key to his further development and having the opportunity to move up will rely on the ability to consistently throw strikes. But so far, he’s been pleased about his progress.

“I feel good,” Neal said. “It’s the start of the season, so it’s time to get going. Spring training is over and it’s time to put all the adjustments aside and start pitching now. I think being here in Double-A for the A’s is a big step. I’m one of the younger guys, so I can’t complain. Some guys don’t ever get to Double-A.”

If he continues to develop, this former Hawk might find himself on the road to even bigger memories in his baseball career.